Annual OSU Recommended Vegetable Varieties List Released

2-18-11

OSU-recommended vegetables provide best yields in local gardens

By Judy Scott, 541-737-1386, judy.scott@oregonstate.edu

Sources: Annie Chozinski, 541-737-8959, chozinsa@hort.oregonstate.edu

Jim Myers, 541-737-3083, myersja@hort.oregonstate.edu

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Vegetable varieties and melons recommended by Oregon State University for 2011 are adapted to local growing conditions to produce the best yields in home gardens. The OSU Extension Service recommends the updated varieties listed here for all areas of the state except regions indicated.

"We look at these varieties at least two years before we can make recommendations," said Annie Chozinski, faculty research assistant with the horticulture department at OSU.

"Some we consider for many years, especially if they vary from year to year,” she said. “We observe and measure many traits, but it's the overall score that helps us decide. If something has high scores in everything but succumbs to disease pressure, it is not recommended. Similarly, if something is highly disease resistant but has odd flavors, size or variability, we don't recommend it."

Regions:

I. Oregon coast: cool but long season of 190 to 250 days.

II. Western valleys: 150-250 day season; warm days, cool nights; length of season may very considerably from year to year.

III. High elevations: short growing season of 90 to 120 days; frost possible in any month.

IV. Columbia and Snake River valleys: 120- to 200-day season; hot days, warm nights, length of season fairly well defined.

Recommended varieties:

Artichoke

(not regions III and IV) Green Globe, Imperial Star, Emerald.

Asparagus

Mary Washington, Jersey Knight, Jersey Giant, UC 157, Purple Passion.

Beans

(green bush) Tendercrop, Venture, Slenderette, Oregon 91G, Oregon Trail, Provider, Jade, Oregon 54.

(flat Italian) Roma II.

(French filet) Nickel, Straight ‘N Narrow.

(green pole) Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder, Romano, Cascade Giant, Kentucky

Blue, Oregon Giant.

(wax bush) Goldenrod, Goldrush, Indy Gold, Slenderwax.

(lima, bush, large seeded) Fordhook 242 (or any Fordhook).

(lima, bush, small seeded) Thorogreen, Baby Fordhook, Jackson Wonder.

(dry) Pinto, Red Kidney, White Kidney (Cannellini), Cranberry, Etna.

(edible Soybeans or Edamame) Envy, Early Hakucho, Butterbean, Sayamusume, Misono Green.

Beets

Ruby Queen, Red Ace, Kestrel, Early Wonder, Pacemaker III, Detroit Dark Red, Red Cloud.

(cylindrical) Cylindra, Forono.

(golden) Golden.

(novelty) Blankoma, Chioggia.

(greens) Early Wonder Tall Top, Bull’s Blood.

Broccoli

Premium Crop, Packman, Arcadia, Early Dividend, Windsor, Emerald Pride, Gypsy.

(Romanesco type) Romanesco, Veronica.

Brussels Sprouts

Jade Cross "E", Oliver.

Cabbage

(early) Parel, Primax, Farao, Tendersweet, Gonzales, Surprise.

(main season) Golden Acre, Bravo, Charmant, Cambria, Invento.

(late fall, winter) Danish Ballhead, Storage Hybrid #4, Blue Thunder.

(red) Ruby Perfection, Red Acre.

(savoy) Melissa, Savoy Express, Savoy Ace, Perfection, Famosa.

Chinese cabbage

Michihili, Monument, China Express.

Pac choi: Mei Qing Choy, Joi Choi.

Carrots

Red Core Chantenay, Royal Chantenay, Scarlet Nantes, Mokum, Bolero, Apache, Danvers, Sugarsnax 54, Nelson, Napa, Kuroda, Nantindo, Magnum, Navarino, Sweetness III, Napoli, Yaya, Vitana, Skywalker.

(yellow) Yellowstone.

(white) White Satin.

(purple) Purple Haze.

(baby carrots) Minicore, Parmex, Thumbelina.

Cauliflower

Snowball "Y" Improved, Snow Crown, Candid Charm, Apex, Amazing.

(Purple) Violet Queen, Graffiti.

(green) Panther.

(Romanesco type) see Broccoli.

Chard

Fordhook Giant, Rhubarb, Bright Lights, Bright Yellow, Silverado, Broadstem Green.

Chicory

(green) Crystal Hat (tall, slender heads).

(red, also known as Radicchio) Chiogga Red Preco, Palla Rosa Special, Indigo, Treviso (tall, slender heads).

Celery

Utah 52-70R, Tango.

Celeriac: Brilliant, Diamont.

Collards: Vates, Champion, Flash.

Corn

Yellow Kernels

Standard sweet (early): Sundance, Early Sunglow, Seneca Horizon.

(main season): Jubilee (also called Golden Jubilee).

Supersweet (early): Butterfruit.

(main season): Supersweet Jubilee.

Sugary enhanced (very early): Sugar Buns.

(early): Precocious, Spring Treat.

(main season): Incredible, Kandy King, Kandy Korn, Legend, Bodacious.

White Kernels (must be isolated from yellow or bicolor types to get all white kernels).

Supersweet (main season): How Sweet It Is, Xtratender 378A, Mirai 421W.

Sugary enhanced (early): Sugar Pearl

Sugary enhanced (main season): Argent, Whiteout, Silver Princess.

Bicolor Kernels

Supersweet (early): Xtratender 272A, Mirai 308BC.

(main season): Honey and Pearl, Xtratender 277A.

Sugary enhanced (early): Trinity, Fleet.

(main season): Temptation, Brocade, Delectable, Mystique.

Triple Sweet types (sh2su hybrids): Sweet Rhythm, Serendipity, Sweet Chorus,

Nantasket, Renaissance.

Ornamental

(must be isolated from other corn): Wampum, Chinook.

Note: Kernel quality of all the above corn varieties may be dramatically altered under certain pollination conditions. Supersweets must be isolated from other types.

Cucumbers

(pickling) SMR 58, Pioneer, Bush Pickle, County Fair, Clinton, Cool Breeze, Regal, Vertina.

(slicing) Burpee Hybrid, Marketmore 86 & 97, Poinsett, Raider, Dasher II,

Slicemaster, Intimidator, Tasty Green, Orient Express, Genuine, Sweet Marketmore, Tasty Jade.

(novelty) Armenian, Lemon.

Eggplant

(not regions I, III) Dusky, Epic, Bambino (round), Cloud Nine, Calliope, Burpee Hybrid, Millionaire, Classic, Lavender Touch (white with lavender blush), Dancer (violet).

(elongated) Megal, Bride, Orient Express.

Endive

Green Curled, Batavian, Salad King, Neos.

Gourds

(ornamental) Harrowsmith Select, Little Guys Mix, Corsican, Turk’s Turban, Aladdin, Large Bottle, Goblin Eggs, Autumn Wings.

Kale

Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch, Improved Vates, Siberian, Winterbor, Winter Red, Nero di Toscana, Blue Ridge, Red Bor, Red Ursa.

Kohlrabi

Early White Vienna, Early Purple Vienna, Kongo, Kolibri, Eder.

Leeks

American Flag, King Richard, Kilima.

Lettuce

(heading, main season) Summertime, Ithaca.

(red leaf) Prizehead, Red Sails, Redina, New Red Fire, Merlot, Red Tide.

(green leaf) Salad Bowl, Grand Rapids, Slobolt, Pom Pom.

(oak leaf) Oaky Red Splash, Cocarde, Mascara, Blade.

(romaine) Paris Island, Valmaine, Green Towers, Outredgeous, Devils Tounge, Little Gem, Freckles.

(bibb type) Optima, Buttercrunch.

(butterhead) Esmeralda, Marvel of Four Seasons, Emerald Oak.

(batavian) Nevada, Sierra.

Melons

(not regions I and III)

(Cantaloupe/muskmelon) Ambrosia, Harper Hybrid, Gold Star, Classic, Pulsar, Superstar, Earlisweet, Primo, Fastbreak, Hannah’s Choice, Athena, Earlichamp, Sarah's Choice.

(Honeydew) Earlidew, Honey Orange.

(Galia types) Galia, Passport, Arava.

(Crenshaw types) Early Hybrid Crenshaw.

(Canary) Sugarnut.

Mustard Greens

Green Wave.

(long standing) Osaka Purple, Giant Red.

Onions

(yellow) Copra, Prince, First Edition, New York Early, Candy.

(red) Redwing, Mars.

(white) White Sweet Spanish, Superstar.

(overwintering) Walla Walla Sweet.

(green bunching) Ishikura, Tokyo Long White, He-shi-ko.

Parsley

Triple Moss Curled, Banquet, Dark Green Italian Plain.

Parsnips

Harris Model, All America, Hollow Crown, Gladiator, Andover, Cobham Improved Marrow, Javelin.

Peas

(shelling) Novella II, Oregon Trail, Oregon Pioneer, Green Arrow, Maxigolt.

(oriental edible pod) Oregon Sugar Pod II, Oregon Giant.

(snap pea, bush) Sugar Daddy, Super Snappy, Cascadia, Sugar Sprint, Sugar Ann.

(snap pea, pole) Sugar Snap or Super Sugar Snap (virus susceptible; plant early).

Peppers

(sweet bell, green to red) Parks Early Thickset, Camelot, Fat 'N Sassy, Ace,

Bellboy, Jupiter, Yankee Bell, North Star, Lady Bell, King Arthur, Lantern.

(sweet bell, green to yellow) Golden Bell, Golden Summer.

(sweet bell, green to orange) Ariane, Mandarin.

(sweet bell, green to purple) Lilac Bell, Purple Beauty, Tequila.

(sweet bell, green to lavender to red) Islander.

(sweet bell, green to chocolate) Hershey.

(sweet bell, ivory to red) Ivory.

(specialty sweet types) Sweet Banana, Banana Supreme, Bananarama, Gypsy, Biscayne, Pizza, Lipstick, Apple, Paprika Supreme, The Godfather, Giant Marconi, Round of Hungary, Sweet Cayenne, Carmen, Corno di Toro Yellow.

(cayenne) Super Cayenne II, Andy, Cayenne Long Slim.

(jalapeno) Tam Jalapeno, Early Jalapeno, Conchos, Fresno, Mitla.

(paprika) Mariachi, Paprika Supreme.

(specialty hot types) Cherry Bomb, Serrano, Anaheim TMR23,

Caribbean Red Habanero, Hot Paper Lantern, Bulgarian Carrot, Aji Amarillo.

(novelty, ornamental) Marbles, Riot, Pretty in Purple.

Potatoes

(red) Red Pontiac, Norland, Red La Soda, Cranberry Red.

(white) Russet Burbank, Superior, Goldrush, Kennebec, Butte.

(yellow) Yellow Finn, Yukon Gold, Bintje, Desiree, Red Gold (red skin, yellow flesh),

Carola.

(purple) All Blue.

(fingerling) French Fingerling.

Pumpkins

(large) Jack O'Lantern, Howden, Autumn Gold, Lumina (white), Magic Lantern, Rouge Vif d'Etampes (Cinderella), Rock Star, New Rocket, Sorcerer, Charisma.

(small) Small Sugar (also called Small Sugar Pie), Orange Smoothie.

(compact vines) Tom Fox, Oz, Spirit.

(novelty and exhibition) Big Max, Dill's Atlantic Giant, Prizewinner.

(hulless seeded types) Baby Bear, Snack Jack, Trickster, Kakai.

(mini ornamental types) Jack Be Little, Wee-Be-Little, Lil Pump-ke-mon, Baby Boo.

Radish

(red) Fuego, Comet, French Breakfast, Cherry Belle, Champion, Cherriette, Crunchy Royale, Pink Beauty.

(white) Burpee White, White Icicle.

(large Japanese type) Sakurajima Mammoth.

Radicchio

see Chicory.

Rutabaga

American Purple Top, Laurentian.

Shallots

Bonilla

Spinach

(spring planted for early summer harvest) (smooth leaf) Bloomsdale Long Standing, Olympia.

(savoy) Correnta, Unipack 151, Melody, Hellcat, Butterflay.

(late summer planted for fall harvest) (smooth leaf) Oriental Giant, Bordeaux.

Squash

Summer

(yellow) Early Prolific Straightneck, Multipik, Supersett, Fancycrook, Sunray, Yellow Crookneck, Goldbar, Gentry.

(green zucchini) Ambassador, Seneca, Elite, Tigress, Aristocrat, Raven, Cashflow, Geode (round), Floridor (round).

(yellow zucchini) Gold Rush, Butterstick.

(scallop) Sunburst, Sunny Delight.

(other summer) Tromboncino (C. moschata).

Winter

(not Region 1)

(misc) Golden Delicious, Banana, Blue Hubbard.

(Buttercup/Kabocha) Sweet Meat, Sweet Mama, Ambercup, Buttercup Burgess Strain, Gold Nugget, Black Forest, Autumn Cup, Bonbon.

(Delicata) Sugar Loaf, Honey Boat.

(Acorn) Table Queen, Mesa Queen, Table Ace, Taybelle, Table Gold (orange), Cream of the Crop (white).

(Butternut) Early Butternut, Ultra, JWS 6823.

(Spaghetti) Spaghetti, Pasta, Stripetti, Small Wonder.

Sweet Potato

(not regions I, II, III) Centennial, Georgia Jet.

Tomato

(very early) Oregon Eleven.

(early) Early Girl, Oregon Spring, Santiam, Oregon Pride, Oregon Star, Siletz, Legend.

(medium) Willamette, Pik Red, Celebrity, Sunleaper, Mountain Spring, Medford, First Lady II, Big Beef.

(late) Big Boy, Better Boy, Fantastic, Bush Big Boy, BHN 444, Ramapo.

(cherry type) Oregon Cherry, Gold Nugget, Sweet Million, Cherry Grande, Sun Gold, Early Cherry, Thai Pink, Juliet, Sunsugar, Large German Cherry, Sweet Baby Girl, Orange Paruche.

(yellow) Jubilee.

(orange) Orange blossom.

(paste) Oroma, Saucy, Halley 3155, Viva Italia, Super Marzano, Macero II, Health Kick,

Classica, Olivade.

(heirloom) Brandywine (Sudduth’s Strain or potato leaf strain), Seattle’s Best of All.

Turnip

(root) Purple Top White Globe, Royal Crown, Tokyo Cross.

(greens) Shogoin.

Watermelon

(red fleshed) (not regions I, III) Crimson Sweet, Charleston Gray, Sweet Favorite, Carmen, Sweet Diane, Sweet Cheer, Verona.

(yellow fleshed) Yellow Doll, Sunshine.

(orange fleshed) New Orchid.

(red seedless) Millennium.

(ice box) Sugar Baby, Tiger Baby.

About Garden News from OSU Extension Service: The Extension Service's "Gardening Encyclopedia" web page,http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/, links to a broad spectrum of information on Oregon gardening, such as news, calendars, how-to publications, audio programs, the Master Gardener program and "Northwest Gardeners e-News."

A Giant Has Fallen (to borrow a phrase from a Master Gardener)

I'm saddened that Gray Thompson, one of the founding fathers of the Oregon Master Gardener Program, passed away recently.

As you may know, the Oregon Master Gardener Program was started in 1976, through the efforts of Gray Thompson and Duane Hatch. At the time, Duane was an Extension Agent in Lane County, and Gray was an Extension Agent in Clackamas County. Thus, the first Master Gardener classes were taught in these two counties, by these two innovative and adventurous individuals.

Although he helped to start the Master Gardener Program in the 1970s, Gray began his career with OSU Extension in 1948, working in agriculture and 4-H. During his time with OSU, Gray worked in Lincoln, Umatilla and Multnomah Counties, before his time in Clackamas County.

Following Gray's retirement in 1983, he took the Master Gardener training course with his wife, Norrene. The two have been active Master Gardener volunteers, ever since.

Gray served as President of the Clackamas County Master Gardener Association. For many years, he taught training classes for the incoming Master Gardener classes. Jan and Ray McNeilan report that Gray is likely responsible for starting the popular pH soil tests at the Milwaukie Senior Center.

In 1996, Gray was honored as a Diamond Pioneer Award Winner, by OSU Extension. In 1997, Gray and Norrene were honored as 'Outstanding Cooperators' by the OSU Extension Association. In 2005, the couple was honored as Oregon Master Gardeners of the Year in 2005 by the Oregon Master Gardener Association and the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. In 2006, Gray was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame . More recently, Gray and Norrene served as MG Guides in the Metro Master Gardener Program, where they helped to insure that both interns and MG veterans provided consistent, accurate and reliable information to clients. All of this and more helped to build and strengthen the Master Gardener Program for the benefit of so many faculty, staff, volunteers and clients.

Those who have had the pleasure to chat with Gray will likely remember him as a true gentleman - ever excited about gardening and about community service through the Master Gardener Program. Jan and Ray McNeilan, who knew Gray very well (Ray had worked with him since 1978) passed on the following sentiments: "We will miss his never-ending enthusiasm, his pride in the MG program and his signature hello, 'Ahoy there.".

When I first started my work at OSU, Gray was generous with stories, jokes and smiles that made me even more excited to join the great tradition of those who came before me. I'm saddened beyond words to think that I will no longer see him at Master Gardener events, or at the annual Gardeners Mini-College.

The memorial service for Gray Thompson will take place at Moreland Presbyterian Church (1814 SE Bybee Blvd, Portland) on Saturday, January 15th, at 2 p.m.

The Integrated Garden

A recent NY Times article on aquaponics highlighted the practice of integrating gardening with fish culture. Such an approach can provide a family with a well rounded diet of an nutrient rich vegetables and low fat fish protein.

Although this approach to growing and raising food is just beginning to attract attention in the United States, it has been practiced for more than a century by Asian rice farmers. However, as the Green Revolution swept Asia, mechanized production, pesticides and fertilizers made rice fields increasingly inhospitable for raising fish. The practice has the potential to more efficiently produce food, during a time when resources (including water) are increasingly sparse.

With a resurgent interest in vegetable gardening, edible landscaping, urban/suburban chickens, permaculture, urban homesteads - aquaponics is another example of how we can re-envision gardening practices to more holistically include family- and community-centered goals. Growing and eating nutritious and locally-produced foods are practices that I hope transition from trends to tradition.